MATTHEW
CHAPTER
5
1. When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 1 and 2)
Before addressing the waiting crowds Jesus went alone to pray on the mountain. When he felt empowered by the Holy Spirit of God his disciples came to him and He began teaching the people. What a nice thing it is to pray to You oh God before deciding to embark on a project that may bring changes in our lives or even in that of others. If You oh God felt the need to pray, how much more do we need to pray for Your guidance.
Before continuing our prayer on Matthew chapter 5 we are also going to pray to the Holy Spirit of God so that He will illuminate us so that we get the message of His Word.
Oh God inflame my mind so that I can receive the message that is in Your Holy Word. Give me a brain that is open to receive from You and also to share with others. Please give the insights, feelings and motivation so that I can apply in my life all the teachings that You are going to pass on to me. I pray that You empty me of my concerns and fill me up with Your Divine Holy Spirit so that I can be a channel of Your love.
Amen
In order to become familiar with the teachings of Jesus on the mountain and maybe even consider us as being among the crowd please click on the following link.
Sermon on the Mountain
3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew Chapter 5)
Blessed are the poor in spirit for they are empty of themselves and are full in You Oh Father. Today I realise more than ever that, if I am full with myself, meaning that I am envious, proud and full of aims and personal agenda to be ahead of others, I have no space for You in my heart and self. However this does not mean that I am not to love my self or hate my sinful self, but that the focus of my life is to be on You and not based on my self and on my aspirations and personal ambitions. My main aim in life is to live according to Your ways and be an example for both my family and others in my inner and outer circles, so that through my way of life based on Your Word and on the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church (Others may follow their own churches no problem) we can all reach our ultimate end that is the salvation of our souls by the grace of God and one day we may be all reunited together in the presence of God.
4. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 4)
For all those who used to think oh God that those who experience negative events are cursed or under a bad omen, they are in for a surprise. Nothing is beyond the control of you my father. As much as humans such as psychologists, bereavement therapists or social workers try to give us comfort and understanding it is only God who can give us the necessary support. A very efficient way is to go in the Holy Presence of God in the Eucharist or at our prayer corner and pour out our troubles to You my God. God gives us comfort that the world cannot ever dream of offering to our troubled souls He is our comforter and our healer.
In this respect I would like to share the following reflection that was given to me to publish by Patricia Bailey a long time ago. Patricia Bailey is a follower of this blog
Blessed are the poor in spirit for they are empty of themselves and are full in You Oh Father. Today I realise more than ever that, if I am full with myself, meaning that I am envious, proud and full of aims and personal agenda to be ahead of others, I have no space for You in my heart and self. However this does not mean that I am not to love my self or hate my sinful self, but that the focus of my life is to be on You and not based on my self and on my aspirations and personal ambitions. My main aim in life is to live according to Your ways and be an example for both my family and others in my inner and outer circles, so that through my way of life based on Your Word and on the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church (Others may follow their own churches no problem) we can all reach our ultimate end that is the salvation of our souls by the grace of God and one day we may be all reunited together in the presence of God.
4. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 4)
For all those who used to think oh God that those who experience negative events are cursed or under a bad omen, they are in for a surprise. Nothing is beyond the control of you my father. As much as humans such as psychologists, bereavement therapists or social workers try to give us comfort and understanding it is only God who can give us the necessary support. A very efficient way is to go in the Holy Presence of God in the Eucharist or at our prayer corner and pour out our troubles to You my God. God gives us comfort that the world cannot ever dream of offering to our troubled souls He is our comforter and our healer.
In this respect I would like to share the following reflection that was given to me to publish by Patricia Bailey a long time ago. Patricia Bailey is a follower of this blog
May you know that God loves you.
May you know that you are saved by Jesus.
May you know that He cares for you, always.
May you sleep deeply and peacefully.
May you wake with gratitude.
May you know you are worthy
May you glow with happiness.
May God bless you, day after day,
in the name above all names, in Jesus Name.
Amen!
5. Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 5)
Blessed are those who are not full of themselves with pride and vain glory. Blessed are those who do not consider themselves better than others. When we are humble we are ready to receive and also to give. When we are proud we can neither receive because we are to proud to accept that we are in need and too selfish to share with others.
6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 6)
Oh father may we all experience hunger for You and your 'Word'. You are not speaking of a hunger that can be satisfied with the food and drinks of the world. Whoever eats of this food will experience hunger through lack of food once they have consumed their food, however those who experience You will have a larger craving not because they would desire more and more of You. May we always experience more of this craving and receive the fulfillment that only You can give.
7. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 7)
Love breeds love oh God, and hatred breeds never ending hatred, however if we show mercy to those who have harmed us or who have been unfair or even hurt us this would be more considered worthy in God's eyes. Moreover Jesus showed just this up to the very last breath of his life. He kept on forgiving us and is still offering us forgiveness by means of the sacrament of reconciliation.
8. Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 8)
Indeed blessed are the pure in heart, a heart that is focused on You and free from the desires and contamination of this sinful world that is becoming corrupted with each passing day. Even our food is no longer pure but contaminated by chemicals and preservatives and additives. Gradually we are losing the sense and meaning of the word pure because many things that existed in their natural state as You created are being modified and have become totally artificial.
9. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 9)
It is considered a fact that children are similar in particular traits to their parents therefore we are similar to God who is also our parent. You oh God are the only peacemaker that the world cannot do without. The devil master of discord and confusion does all to create disharmony and sin in the world and even within our brains thus causing us to sin against You and others by stimulating our drives, needs and even emotions in heated situations in order to get us into trouble and sin against You. Therefore blessed are those who try to focus on the positive even in a situation that appears to be totally negative and attempts to solve the issue and thus creates order again.
10. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 10)
Blessed are those who were beheaded during our times because they were Christians, blessed are they when they had to decide to either renounce their belief or flee their homeland. Blessed are we when we lose our jobs because of our belief in You oh God. Blessed are we when we forgive others who attempted to kill us, destroy our marriages even abuse our children.
11. "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 11)
Oh God when making such a declaration You may have already been picturing Your passion and those who would give false witness against You. Oh father make us more like You especially in such situations. In verses 12 You teach us what our attitude is to be during such moments.
12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 12)
Oh God unlike the world You want us to adopt an attitude of thanks giving to You and still be happy even during trials and tribulations. For even if we are unjustly denied of what is due to us, You will generously compensate us with something better and bring out the good even from what appears to be a tragic situation. You are able to turn the situation into our favour if our attitude is like yours. You love us so much and You like it when Your children thank You for the never ending means of support that You give to Your children.
13. "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 13)
We are those that have faith in You oh God, however if we do not set an example of our faith in You oh Father we would be worthy to face the disgrace of humiliation. This does not mean that if we feel that we are not giving testimony of our faith we place ourselves on the floor and tell somebody to walk all over us. In this respect this means that if we who consider ourselves as believers stop giving witness of our faith we would be no better than those who wilfully do not believe in God.
14. "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 14 to 16)
We have received the light of faith, therefore our light must shine and not be hidden and blocked from letting forth its light. As Christians we must charge our batteries by means of the sacraments and shed our light others by means of the way we live and the faith that we practise.
17. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 17)
Although Your message was that of the truth, from that very moment the evil one was already sowing the seeds of doubt and unbelief in the hearts of the people who were present. As much oh God as we welcome innovations in technology and scientific research as humans we have a fear of the unknown. In our spiritual journey this is also the case. We wish to follow You, however we might be afraid of the changes that we have to make in our lives in order to follow You. The question that comes to mind is whether we will be able to make the necessary adjustments in our ways, norms, beliefs and values that govern our lives like a personal constitution.
God is promising a way of life that upgrades our present way of life to one that that is compatible with the ways of God.
18. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 18)
God assured his audience that up to the moment of his passion and after that, meaning the time when He would rise again and send us His Holy Spirit none of their laws would be changed. Oh God sometimes You speak in a way that I do not understand. I am sure that when You said, 'all is accomplished' many people did not understand the meaning of what you were referring to, however even though at times we lack understanding we still are to place our faith and trust fully in You.
19. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 19 to 20)
Jesus assures the listeners and even us He did not intend to destroy our values that are according to His Will, however on the other hand we are to remain in obedience to His commandments and not do actions that are contrary to the teachings of Jesus and the Roman Catholic Church, for anybody who wilfully violates the will of God and teaches others to do the same is guilty for his own recklessness and even for leading others on the wrong path. Therefore people who teach the Word of God and even myself have the responsibility of not only writing things that are according to the will of God but even the responsibility of even living according to the will of God.
I pray to You oh God that You give me the strength and faith to live according to Your ways and not live the life of a hypocrite who writes and says one thing and lives a way of life that is contrary to that same belief as did the scribes and Pharisees at the time of Jesus.
21. "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'Whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.' 22. But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 21 to 22)
What was said during the ancient times is still valid for our times. If one commits murder one is subject to judgement. When referring to murder we are referring to the death of the body. However when we hurt each others emotions by using harsh words we are also committing murder. This is the destruction of ones self esteem and of ones positive image of oneself. In the long run such negative feedback can have long term consequences on the part of the victim who if the person believes such feedback may end up hating and even hurting oneself and may even be the cause of suicide, During this long speech or sermon Jesus refers to the old traditions and customs and gives an update instead of abolishing the old ways that God had given to Moses and his descendants. God dose not make us abolish our ways and beliefs, but enlightens us with means that help us improve our relationship with Him and others.
23. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24. leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 23 and 24)
According to Jesus what really matters is our relationships with others above anything else. He considers as being more important to reconcile with those who have wronged us than to go to a prayer meeting and give praise to Him while being in a state of anger with somebody. When in a state of anger we block out the presence of God from our lives and as, soon as God is out the Devil moves in and causes great harm and injury between those concerned.
25. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 25 to 26)
Oh God You love us so much that You keep on giving us lessons in order to live a life that is in harmony with Your will and that is according to the well being of social order. When we become angry we create a state of disorder both within us and even beyond us, and this may have a negative impact both within ourselves and even on those making part of our inner and outer circles. Personally our emotions are stimulated so we may become angry and aggressive, Therefore wen in such a state it is best to calm down by referring to God in a spirit of prayer, realise that if someone has wronged us, at some time in our lives we have also hurt and wronged other people and that the pattern never ends, however God has given us the power to make that difference and become peace makers instead of trouble makers.
27. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 28. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 27 and 28)
When we look at someone and fix our eyes on its beauty we form an image of beauty and love in our mind nevertheless if the source of beauty is not ours, however if the image becomes a need and a want so much that we have an intimate relationship with another person's wife or husband that is really against the will of God. So the best thing is to either avoid looking or at least make the look a one time affair and not stare or wink at the woman or man as an invitation.
29. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 29)
By no means does God want us to pluck out our eyes or cause physical bodily harm to our selves. The underlined message is to do our best to avoid all situations that may be of temptation and cause us to commit one sin after another. The reference made by Jesus to the eye can be applied to other members of the body such as the tongue which is also a very dangerous weapon if given the occasion to be used in a negative way.
Oh God forgive me, for as a human I have let my tongue and other senses take the better side of me and have also been a source of injury to others. Although I meditate on Your Word each day I am still not spared from the temptation of committing such sins with my tongue and other members of my body.
30. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 30)
If I come across many one handed people I would be sure that they are Christians or maybe people who have followed this blog. Excuse my joke oh God, but I feel sure that You do not wish us to cut off our hands but to make sure that we use our hands to do positive actions instead of negative ones.
31. " It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him giver her a certificate of divorce.' 32. But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 31 to 32)
With reference to the issue of divorce and the only grounds of divorce please click on the following link
Grounds for divorce
God and divorce
33. "Again, you you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord,' 34. But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35. or by earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 33 to 35)
In His sermon on the mount Jesus gives us another important update concerning the taking of oaths. The law especially in courts compels us to say the truth under oath and we are to obey such legal instruction. Jesus also respected the authority of His time. In His sermon Jesus was aware of the antagonism that existed between the Romans's and the people of His time. However He still demanded that oaths may not be taken by Jerusalem in order not to show disrespect to the authorities even though they may have been corrupt and unjust. Moreover Jesus was referring to oaths taken on ones children, self, Job and even family as is done by some. When taking oaths we are commanding God to justify us in situations that may be a times corrupt or unjust or only as a means to sustain our arguments which may have nothing to do with God all. Therefore in order to show our respect to God, ourselves and to others it is best not to take such oaths at all.
36. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37. Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No,; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 36 to 37)
Jesus strictly demands that at all times under every circumstance we are to stick to the truth. However although saying will set us free, it is not easy to accomplish because significant others or delicate situations may hinder us from being completely honest with ourselves and even with others. When constantly compelled or adopt the bad habit of saying lies or as some call them white lies we may end up living a lie even with ourselves.
In relation to the issue of saying the truth I would like to share with you the following video clip about saying the truth. Please click on the following link:
Always say the truth
38. "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,' 39. But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40. and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41. and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42. Give everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 38 to 42)
According to the will of God as found also in the book of genesis, a negative action is not to be followed by another negative action. Following this vicious circle, the negativity will keep on spreading. In His sermon on the mount Jesus challenged or updated this old belief by introducing the issue of forgiveness. On reflecting on this verse oh father I commented 'so much ado and fuss on self-defense' because in truth You do not want us to retaliate in self-defence but as you did when physically assaulted, You turned the other cheek. Thank You my father for setting me such a good example to follow. I pray that if I ever end up in such a situation I will not refer to my instincts but keep your teaching in mind and humbly turn the other cheek.
In this respect I would like to share with you the following song by my favourite Country singer Kenny Rogers. The song is called 'Coward of the County'
Song Coward of the County
I have also included an illustrated version showing the action behind the words that helps us to grasp the message behind the song.
Illustrated version of the coward of the county
43. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy,' 44. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45. so that you may be children of your Father in heaven;for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 43 to 45)
In his sermon Jesus challenges for the second time the old issue of hitting back at our enemies. What is so hard about Your Word oh Father is that at times it goes against human logic and the instincts of our corrupt nature, which dictates that we love only those who love us. This is one of the greatest challenges of all times that compels us to go against our thinking and even our instincts. This requires of us to adopt a new updated attitude to life that is based on Your Word instead of on our sinful and carnal nature.
46. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47. And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 46 to 48)
When I was a student at the university of Malta one of my lecturers had a sticker having the following message; 'If you want to drive your enemies nuts love them'
We drive our enemies crazy because it is illogical to love a person who is totally against us, however as already mentioned Jesus is giving us this command to go against our own nature and love those whom we find it difficult to mingle with. This is one of the greatest challenges to humanity because as humans our sinful nature tends to create barriers against those who hurt us. It is only with the grace of God that a human ever succeeds in forgiving or loving a person who has hurt us or is making life difficult for us.
Oh Father I confess in Your presence that even though I love You and meditate on Your word every day, there are still people whom I still cannot forgive. Such people have either hurt me in the past or are still hurting me even at the present time of my life. I also admit oh father that as a human being I am still far from being perfect, and as a consequence there are people whom I have hurt in my life, both in my inner circles at home and in my extended family and even in my outer circles at work and other environments. I pray for your forgiveness oh Father for I am a great sinner. Although I do my best to control my self meaning my tongue in what I say and my brain in what I think, I am still facing difficulties and am still hurting others in the process. I pray for your forgiveness oh God and I pray that You help me in overcoming my sinful self by making me more aware of myself and more sensitive to others and their thoughts and feelings.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer, that was generously donated to us by Mary Geveetha who although is a very busy person still found time to send me this prayer via email. I thank her my wife Shirley who is meditating on the gospel of St Mark, and Mr. Devain Ajit Pawar for they are my right and left hand in the continuation of this blog. In Your name oh Father please send your blessings and care and please help them in all their needs. I also wish to pray for a person who is also following this blog so that You oh father can intervene in the relationship issue that he and his loved one are facing so that they will be reunited if it is according to Your Will.
(Prayer by Mary Geveetha)
Blessed are those who are not full of themselves with pride and vain glory. Blessed are those who do not consider themselves better than others. When we are humble we are ready to receive and also to give. When we are proud we can neither receive because we are to proud to accept that we are in need and too selfish to share with others.
6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 6)
Oh father may we all experience hunger for You and your 'Word'. You are not speaking of a hunger that can be satisfied with the food and drinks of the world. Whoever eats of this food will experience hunger through lack of food once they have consumed their food, however those who experience You will have a larger craving not because they would desire more and more of You. May we always experience more of this craving and receive the fulfillment that only You can give.
7. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 7)
Love breeds love oh God, and hatred breeds never ending hatred, however if we show mercy to those who have harmed us or who have been unfair or even hurt us this would be more considered worthy in God's eyes. Moreover Jesus showed just this up to the very last breath of his life. He kept on forgiving us and is still offering us forgiveness by means of the sacrament of reconciliation.
8. Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 8)
Indeed blessed are the pure in heart, a heart that is focused on You and free from the desires and contamination of this sinful world that is becoming corrupted with each passing day. Even our food is no longer pure but contaminated by chemicals and preservatives and additives. Gradually we are losing the sense and meaning of the word pure because many things that existed in their natural state as You created are being modified and have become totally artificial.
9. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 9)
It is considered a fact that children are similar in particular traits to their parents therefore we are similar to God who is also our parent. You oh God are the only peacemaker that the world cannot do without. The devil master of discord and confusion does all to create disharmony and sin in the world and even within our brains thus causing us to sin against You and others by stimulating our drives, needs and even emotions in heated situations in order to get us into trouble and sin against You. Therefore blessed are those who try to focus on the positive even in a situation that appears to be totally negative and attempts to solve the issue and thus creates order again.
10. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 10)
Blessed are those who were beheaded during our times because they were Christians, blessed are they when they had to decide to either renounce their belief or flee their homeland. Blessed are we when we lose our jobs because of our belief in You oh God. Blessed are we when we forgive others who attempted to kill us, destroy our marriages even abuse our children.
11. "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 11)
Oh God when making such a declaration You may have already been picturing Your passion and those who would give false witness against You. Oh father make us more like You especially in such situations. In verses 12 You teach us what our attitude is to be during such moments.
12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 12)
Oh God unlike the world You want us to adopt an attitude of thanks giving to You and still be happy even during trials and tribulations. For even if we are unjustly denied of what is due to us, You will generously compensate us with something better and bring out the good even from what appears to be a tragic situation. You are able to turn the situation into our favour if our attitude is like yours. You love us so much and You like it when Your children thank You for the never ending means of support that You give to Your children.
13. "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 13)
We are those that have faith in You oh God, however if we do not set an example of our faith in You oh Father we would be worthy to face the disgrace of humiliation. This does not mean that if we feel that we are not giving testimony of our faith we place ourselves on the floor and tell somebody to walk all over us. In this respect this means that if we who consider ourselves as believers stop giving witness of our faith we would be no better than those who wilfully do not believe in God.
14. "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 14 to 16)
We have received the light of faith, therefore our light must shine and not be hidden and blocked from letting forth its light. As Christians we must charge our batteries by means of the sacraments and shed our light others by means of the way we live and the faith that we practise.
17. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 17)
Although Your message was that of the truth, from that very moment the evil one was already sowing the seeds of doubt and unbelief in the hearts of the people who were present. As much oh God as we welcome innovations in technology and scientific research as humans we have a fear of the unknown. In our spiritual journey this is also the case. We wish to follow You, however we might be afraid of the changes that we have to make in our lives in order to follow You. The question that comes to mind is whether we will be able to make the necessary adjustments in our ways, norms, beliefs and values that govern our lives like a personal constitution.
God is promising a way of life that upgrades our present way of life to one that that is compatible with the ways of God.
18. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 18)
God assured his audience that up to the moment of his passion and after that, meaning the time when He would rise again and send us His Holy Spirit none of their laws would be changed. Oh God sometimes You speak in a way that I do not understand. I am sure that when You said, 'all is accomplished' many people did not understand the meaning of what you were referring to, however even though at times we lack understanding we still are to place our faith and trust fully in You.
19. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 19 to 20)
Jesus assures the listeners and even us He did not intend to destroy our values that are according to His Will, however on the other hand we are to remain in obedience to His commandments and not do actions that are contrary to the teachings of Jesus and the Roman Catholic Church, for anybody who wilfully violates the will of God and teaches others to do the same is guilty for his own recklessness and even for leading others on the wrong path. Therefore people who teach the Word of God and even myself have the responsibility of not only writing things that are according to the will of God but even the responsibility of even living according to the will of God.
I pray to You oh God that You give me the strength and faith to live according to Your ways and not live the life of a hypocrite who writes and says one thing and lives a way of life that is contrary to that same belief as did the scribes and Pharisees at the time of Jesus.
21. "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'Whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.' 22. But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 21 to 22)
What was said during the ancient times is still valid for our times. If one commits murder one is subject to judgement. When referring to murder we are referring to the death of the body. However when we hurt each others emotions by using harsh words we are also committing murder. This is the destruction of ones self esteem and of ones positive image of oneself. In the long run such negative feedback can have long term consequences on the part of the victim who if the person believes such feedback may end up hating and even hurting oneself and may even be the cause of suicide, During this long speech or sermon Jesus refers to the old traditions and customs and gives an update instead of abolishing the old ways that God had given to Moses and his descendants. God dose not make us abolish our ways and beliefs, but enlightens us with means that help us improve our relationship with Him and others.
23. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24. leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 23 and 24)
According to Jesus what really matters is our relationships with others above anything else. He considers as being more important to reconcile with those who have wronged us than to go to a prayer meeting and give praise to Him while being in a state of anger with somebody. When in a state of anger we block out the presence of God from our lives and as, soon as God is out the Devil moves in and causes great harm and injury between those concerned.
25. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 25 to 26)
Oh God You love us so much that You keep on giving us lessons in order to live a life that is in harmony with Your will and that is according to the well being of social order. When we become angry we create a state of disorder both within us and even beyond us, and this may have a negative impact both within ourselves and even on those making part of our inner and outer circles. Personally our emotions are stimulated so we may become angry and aggressive, Therefore wen in such a state it is best to calm down by referring to God in a spirit of prayer, realise that if someone has wronged us, at some time in our lives we have also hurt and wronged other people and that the pattern never ends, however God has given us the power to make that difference and become peace makers instead of trouble makers.
27. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 28. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 27 and 28)
When we look at someone and fix our eyes on its beauty we form an image of beauty and love in our mind nevertheless if the source of beauty is not ours, however if the image becomes a need and a want so much that we have an intimate relationship with another person's wife or husband that is really against the will of God. So the best thing is to either avoid looking or at least make the look a one time affair and not stare or wink at the woman or man as an invitation.
29. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 29)
By no means does God want us to pluck out our eyes or cause physical bodily harm to our selves. The underlined message is to do our best to avoid all situations that may be of temptation and cause us to commit one sin after another. The reference made by Jesus to the eye can be applied to other members of the body such as the tongue which is also a very dangerous weapon if given the occasion to be used in a negative way.
Oh God forgive me, for as a human I have let my tongue and other senses take the better side of me and have also been a source of injury to others. Although I meditate on Your Word each day I am still not spared from the temptation of committing such sins with my tongue and other members of my body.
30. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 30)
If I come across many one handed people I would be sure that they are Christians or maybe people who have followed this blog. Excuse my joke oh God, but I feel sure that You do not wish us to cut off our hands but to make sure that we use our hands to do positive actions instead of negative ones.
31. " It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him giver her a certificate of divorce.' 32. But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
(Matthew chapter 5 verse 31 to 32)
With reference to the issue of divorce and the only grounds of divorce please click on the following link
Grounds for divorce
God and divorce
33. "Again, you you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord,' 34. But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35. or by earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 33 to 35)
In His sermon on the mount Jesus gives us another important update concerning the taking of oaths. The law especially in courts compels us to say the truth under oath and we are to obey such legal instruction. Jesus also respected the authority of His time. In His sermon Jesus was aware of the antagonism that existed between the Romans's and the people of His time. However He still demanded that oaths may not be taken by Jerusalem in order not to show disrespect to the authorities even though they may have been corrupt and unjust. Moreover Jesus was referring to oaths taken on ones children, self, Job and even family as is done by some. When taking oaths we are commanding God to justify us in situations that may be a times corrupt or unjust or only as a means to sustain our arguments which may have nothing to do with God all. Therefore in order to show our respect to God, ourselves and to others it is best not to take such oaths at all.
36. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37. Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No,; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 36 to 37)
Jesus strictly demands that at all times under every circumstance we are to stick to the truth. However although saying will set us free, it is not easy to accomplish because significant others or delicate situations may hinder us from being completely honest with ourselves and even with others. When constantly compelled or adopt the bad habit of saying lies or as some call them white lies we may end up living a lie even with ourselves.
In relation to the issue of saying the truth I would like to share with you the following video clip about saying the truth. Please click on the following link:
Always say the truth
38. "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,' 39. But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40. and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41. and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42. Give everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 38 to 42)
According to the will of God as found also in the book of genesis, a negative action is not to be followed by another negative action. Following this vicious circle, the negativity will keep on spreading. In His sermon on the mount Jesus challenged or updated this old belief by introducing the issue of forgiveness. On reflecting on this verse oh father I commented 'so much ado and fuss on self-defense' because in truth You do not want us to retaliate in self-defence but as you did when physically assaulted, You turned the other cheek. Thank You my father for setting me such a good example to follow. I pray that if I ever end up in such a situation I will not refer to my instincts but keep your teaching in mind and humbly turn the other cheek.
In this respect I would like to share with you the following song by my favourite Country singer Kenny Rogers. The song is called 'Coward of the County'
Song Coward of the County
I have also included an illustrated version showing the action behind the words that helps us to grasp the message behind the song.
Illustrated version of the coward of the county
43. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy,' 44. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45. so that you may be children of your Father in heaven;for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 43 to 45)
In his sermon Jesus challenges for the second time the old issue of hitting back at our enemies. What is so hard about Your Word oh Father is that at times it goes against human logic and the instincts of our corrupt nature, which dictates that we love only those who love us. This is one of the greatest challenges of all times that compels us to go against our thinking and even our instincts. This requires of us to adopt a new updated attitude to life that is based on Your Word instead of on our sinful and carnal nature.
46. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47. And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(Matthew chapter 5 verses 46 to 48)
When I was a student at the university of Malta one of my lecturers had a sticker having the following message; 'If you want to drive your enemies nuts love them'
We drive our enemies crazy because it is illogical to love a person who is totally against us, however as already mentioned Jesus is giving us this command to go against our own nature and love those whom we find it difficult to mingle with. This is one of the greatest challenges to humanity because as humans our sinful nature tends to create barriers against those who hurt us. It is only with the grace of God that a human ever succeeds in forgiving or loving a person who has hurt us or is making life difficult for us.
Oh Father I confess in Your presence that even though I love You and meditate on Your word every day, there are still people whom I still cannot forgive. Such people have either hurt me in the past or are still hurting me even at the present time of my life. I also admit oh father that as a human being I am still far from being perfect, and as a consequence there are people whom I have hurt in my life, both in my inner circles at home and in my extended family and even in my outer circles at work and other environments. I pray for your forgiveness oh Father for I am a great sinner. Although I do my best to control my self meaning my tongue in what I say and my brain in what I think, I am still facing difficulties and am still hurting others in the process. I pray for your forgiveness oh God and I pray that You help me in overcoming my sinful self by making me more aware of myself and more sensitive to others and their thoughts and feelings.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer, that was generously donated to us by Mary Geveetha who although is a very busy person still found time to send me this prayer via email. I thank her my wife Shirley who is meditating on the gospel of St Mark, and Mr. Devain Ajit Pawar for they are my right and left hand in the continuation of this blog. In Your name oh Father please send your blessings and care and please help them in all their needs. I also wish to pray for a person who is also following this blog so that You oh father can intervene in the relationship issue that he and his loved one are facing so that they will be reunited if it is according to Your Will.
Heavenly Father,
In our profession of faith, we pray to be wise people who have our lamps of faith lit and be awake with sound knowledge of Your word and settled resolution in all trials and tribulations.
Create in us a steadfast spirit O Father, so that we shine in goodness, in our love for You and our brethren. May we never grow remiss and slackened in our spiritual growth and development. As we keep ready oil for our lamps, may we keep pursuing repentance and a righteous living and be ever ready to meet You at Your judgement seat. As many are called but few chosen, we pray to be the chosen to receive the crown of inheritance of Your Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Create in us a steadfast spirit O Father, so that we shine in goodness, in our love for You and our brethren. May we never grow remiss and slackened in our spiritual growth and development. As we keep ready oil for our lamps, may we keep pursuing repentance and a righteous living and be ever ready to meet You at Your judgement seat. As many are called but few chosen, we pray to be the chosen to receive the crown of inheritance of Your Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Bless us Father with the Holy Spirit that we may be become prudent and diligent servants of Jesus Christ our Lord. May we realise that nothing we inherit upon earth is our own except sin, which is the outcome of our desires of flesh and wants of the worldly pleasures. Let us not envy sinners, or covet any of their perishing possessions in the ways of the world but desire the great inheritance of heaven.
We pray to understand and succumb to the fact that it is the real Christian's liberty and privilege to be employed as His servant, in promoting His glory, and the good of His people. We pray that we no longer selfishly live for ourselves but in love of Christ who died for us and serve in His great commission towards the well being of His people. May our selfless giving to the poor and needy, the care for the sick and lonely, and the acceptance of the abandoned and those set aside by society be our prime concern in love and service. May the love of Christ flow through our hearts in perfect peace as we radiate His love in our love for our brethren who are in need.
We pray to understand and succumb to the fact that it is the real Christian's liberty and privilege to be employed as His servant, in promoting His glory, and the good of His people. We pray that we no longer selfishly live for ourselves but in love of Christ who died for us and serve in His great commission towards the well being of His people. May our selfless giving to the poor and needy, the care for the sick and lonely, and the acceptance of the abandoned and those set aside by society be our prime concern in love and service. May the love of Christ flow through our hearts in perfect peace as we radiate His love in our love for our brethren who are in need.
Father, we await in faith and hope the great coming of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. We rejoice in our hearts knowing that He will come again in reign as King of Glory and mediator and the ultimate judge of the living and dead. We pray that we make ourselves aware that there is a judgement to come, in which every man shall be sentenced to a state of everlasting happiness, or misery.
The wicked and godly who now dwell together will be parted on the day of judgement. Jesus Christ is the great judge who will shortly distinguish between those that are His, and those that are not. All other distinctions will be done away with, but the great one between saints and sinners, holy and unholy, will remain for ever. We earnestly pray that we will be a people who will share in the great Grace of Lord Jesus Christ.
The wicked and godly who now dwell together will be parted on the day of judgement. Jesus Christ is the great judge who will shortly distinguish between those that are His, and those that are not. All other distinctions will be done away with, but the great one between saints and sinners, holy and unholy, will remain for ever. We earnestly pray that we will be a people who will share in the great Grace of Lord Jesus Christ.
We pray this prayer in the blessed name of Jesus, Amen
(Prayer by Mary Geveetha)
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